Bill

SF 132

A bill for an act relating to Medicaid coverage of maternity care including doula care.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Liz Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

Expands Medicaid maternity care to include doula services, with certification, enrollment for doulas, and a livable reimbursement rate to improve birth outcomes.

Subcommittee: Klimesh, Costello, and Petersen.

#births #healthandhumanservicesdepartment #maternity #medicalassistance #medicalcare #newbornchildren #publicassistance #stillbirths

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Bill Summary · SF 132

Summary of Bill SF 132 — Medicaid Coverage of Maternity Care Including Doula Care

Overview

SF 132 proposes to expand Medicaid maternity care to explicitly include doula services. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement rules, adjust managed-care contracts, and pursue state plan amendments or waivers as needed to provide maternity care that includes doula services under both fee-for-service and managed-care administration of Medicaid.

Purpose and Intent

Improve maternal and infant health outcomes by integrating doula support into Medicaid maternity care.
Address prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal support to reduce stillbirths, infant mortality, and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Establish a formal framework for certifying doulas and enrolling them as Medicaid participating providers.
Ensure a sustainable, livable income for full-time practicing doulas through a designated reimbursement rate.

Key Provisions

1) Medicaid framework for maternity care including doula care
- Applies to both fee-for-service and managed-care administration of Medicaid.
- HHS must adopt rules under Code chapter 17A.
- HHS must amend Medicaid contracts with managed care organizations (MCOs) as needed.
- HHS must pursue Medicaid state plan amendments or waivers to enable this coverage.

2) Doula certification and enrollment
- HHS, in collaboration with stakeholders, must establish:
- A process for certifying doulas.
- A process for enrolling doulas as participating Medicaid providers.

3) Reimbursement rate
- HHS must establish a reimbursement rate for doula services that supports a livable annual income for a full-time practicing doula.

4) Definitions
- “Doula” is defined as a trained professional providing continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant person before, during, and after childbirth to improve birth outcomes, prevent stillbirths and infant deaths, and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Who Is Affected

Pregnant and birthing persons enrolled in Medicaid.
Doulas (as potential Medicaid providers) and the broader maternal-health workforce.
Managed care organizations (MCOs) and Medicaid providers/program administrators.
State and local health departments implementing prenatal and perinatal care initiatives.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: January 23, 2025.
Subcommittee: Klimesh, Costello, and Petersen (as of January 30, 2025).
Legislative actions show the bill progressing from introduction to subcommittee consideration.

Potential Impact

Access: Increased access to doula support for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Health outcomes: Potential reductions in stillbirths, infant deaths, and maternal complications through enhanced perinatal support.
Workforce: Creation of a certified doula enrollment pathway and a guaranteed reimbursement framework for sustainable practice.
Fiscal/administrative: Requires rulemaking, MCO contract amendments, and potential Medicaid state plan amendments or waivers, with associated administrative work and funding implications.